Improvement in harness-saddles



A. GILLIAM. Harness-Saddle.

No. 198,511. Patented Dec. 25,1877.

112 yen Tor:

N PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WLSNINGTO'L D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

ALGERNON GILLIAM, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS-SADDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,511, dated December 25, 1877; application filed October 10, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALGERNON GILLIAM, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny 'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Harness Saddles, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to an improved construction of the ends of the metal trees of harness saddles or coach pads, to facilitate the attachment of the skirts and insure the security of their connection; and it consists in providing each end of the tree proper with a stud to enter and receive the strain of the skirt, and with a transverse loop passing over the skirt, in such manner as to hold it down upon the stud.

Figurelrepresents avertical section through one side of a saddle having my improvement embodied therein; Fig. 2, a face view of one end of the tree with the skirt attached; Fig. 3, a perspective view, showing the end of the tree with the stud and loop thereon.

A represents the saddle-tree, which may be made of cast metal, in one piece, in any of the ordinary form s, with recesses in its extremities to receive the ends of the skirts B, as shown. In the recess in each end of the tree there is a rigid stud, O, which may be cast thereon, or riveted, screwed, or otherwise firmly secured thereto this stud being designed to enter the skirt and receive its entire strain, as shown.

At the end of the tree, below the stud 0, there is a cross loop or bar, D, intended to extend over and across the end of the skirt, and hold the same down in its place upon the stud, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A screw, E, intended mainly to secure the outer covering portions of the saddle, may be inserted through the skirt and tree above the stud, as shown, and, when thus applied, will serve as an additional security against the escape of the skirt from the stud; but this screw is not necessary to the security of the skirt, as the loop or cross-bar serves effectually to prevent the skirt from being disengaged.

It is preferred to make the stirrup or loop D in one piece with the tree by casting it on the end of the same, as shown in the drawing; but it may be made in a separate piece, and secured to or engaged with the tree in any suitable manner, provided it extends over the skirt or side piece in the manner shown, and

holds the same down to its proper place on the stud.

By the combination of the stud and the loop, I provide a means of securing the skirt which is at once cheap, simple, and secure, and which does not depend upon screws or other detachable parts, which are liable to become loose and permit the separation of the skirts.

When the saddle is complete, the top piece extends down over and conceals the stud in the manner shown, giving to the saddle a linished appearance.

It is to be distinctly understood that in the event of the loop being made in a separate piece, it is nevertheless to be arranged in the same position as when cast on the tree, and to be secured to the latter in such manner as to form practically an integral part thereof.

I am aware that studs have been used in various places to hold straps; that they have been employed on saddle-trees to receive the strain of the skirts; that loops have been used in many places and for many purposes; and that an inside or pad plate has been provided with a stud and cross-bar to which a metal stiflening-piece was secured by hammering and flattening the parts down thereon; and I do not claim either of said devices or arrangements.

My invention is limited specifically to the tree proper, having both the stud and loop on each end, and it is this improved tree only that I desire to cover.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The improved metallic harness-tree, having each end provided with the stud O and loop D, located as shown and described.

2. The metallic saddle-tree, having the recessed ends, the outside end studs 0, and the end loops D, in combination with the outside skirts passing under the loops and engaging with the studs, as shown.

ALGERNON GILLIAM.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE, W. W. DODGE. 

